2026–27 Lifetimepool Draft Review: 60 Picks, 12 Teams and a Championship Race

Sixty selections. Five rounds. Twelve franchises. One championship to chase.

The 2026-27 Lifetimepool draft is officially in the books, and another eventful offseason has transformed the league's competitive landscape.

Some teams targeted immediate NHL production. Others invested heavily in prospects, while several franchises used the draft to address goaltending and defensive depth.

The defending champion Leafs have added Jason Robertson, the North Stars have acquired Mitch Marner, and the Oilers continue assembling one of the league's most intriguing collections of young talent.

With the draft completed and the latest rosters taking shape, it is time to examine the selections, identify the moves that could influence the upcoming season, and make our preseason predictions.

The Draft by the Numbers

• 12 participating franchises
• 60 overall selections
• 5 draft rounds
• 9 goaltenders selected
• 6 selections each for the Oilers and Inter Toronto HC

The draft featured a combination of established NHL players, emerging young talent and prospects whose impact may not be realized for several seasons.

Goaltending was a particularly interesting theme. Nine selections were used on goalies, including Brandon Bussi, Jesper Wallstedt, Jakub Dobes, Carter Hart, Scott Wedgewood and Joel Hofer.

With only one goaltender contributing to each team's final Lifetimepool score, drafting multiple goalies creates valuable options and injury insurance rather than additional simultaneous scoring.

Draft Review: All 12 Franchises

Oilers: Building for the Future

Selections: Roman Kantserov (#1), Konsta Helenius (#7), Nikita Klepov (#13), Charlie Stramel (#30), Eric Pohlkamp (#49) and Harrison Brunicke (#54).

The Oilers entered the draft with multiple premium selections and used them to expand an already substantial collection of young talent.

Kantserov and Helenius provide two additional offensive prospects, while Stramel adds another developing forward. Pohlkamp and Brunicke strengthen the defensive pipeline.

With Matthew Schaefer, Will Smith, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell and several other young players already in the organization, Edmonton continues to build around long-term development.

The challenge is timing. Much of the roster's potential depends on players establishing themselves in the NHL. This draft may ultimately have a much greater impact in future seasons than it does in 2026-27.

Devils: Strengthening an Already Impressive Defence

Selections: Chase Reid (#2), Matvei Gridin (#5), Luca Cagnoni (#25), Adam Jiricek (#35) and Sam Malinski (#41).

The Devils entered the offseason with an exceptional defensive foundation built around Cale Makar and Lane Hutson.

Adding Reid, Cagnoni and Jiricek further strengthens that position for the future, while Malinski offers another established NHL option.

Gridin provides offensive upside and another young forward capable of developing into a meaningful contributor.

The Devils' draft complements a roster that also features Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Juraj Slafkovsky and Quinton Byfield.

The team's defence could become a significant advantage over franchises that rely more heavily on forward production.

Ferrari: Adding Production and Prospect Depth

Selections: Josh Doan (#3), Denver Barkey (#15), Braeden Cootes (#27), Jake DeBrusk (#39) and Brayden Yager (#51).

Ferrari combined immediate contributors with longer-term investments.

Doan and DeBrusk provide established NHL experience, while Barkey, Cootes and Yager offer additional developmental potential.

Doan is particularly interesting in a points-only format. NHL.com's preseason projection places him at 60 points, creating an opportunity for immediate scoring value.

The larger question for Ferrari is how much improvement can come from the existing roster.

A healthy Aleksander Barkov, alongside Jesper Bratt, Adrian Kempe, Nico Hischier and Drake Batherson, would give Ferrari a competitive forward group.

Coyotes: Combining Prospects With Established Players

Selections: Caleb Malhotra (#4), Carson Carels (#12), Fraser Minten (#16) and Jack Roslovic (#52).

The Coyotes used two first-round selections to acquire Malhotra and Carels, adding young talent at forward and defence.

Minten and Roslovic provide additional NHL options, although the team's established forwards may limit how quickly either player contributes to its counting 12.

The Coyotes also made a significant offseason acquisition by bringing in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from the Leafs.

With Cole Caufield, Tage Thompson, Bo Horvat, Matthew Knies and Zach Hyman already in the organization, the Coyotes have the offensive personnel to improve upon last season's ninth-place finish.

Roma: Addressing Defence and Goaltending

Selections: Alexander Zharovsky (#6), Mattias Samuelsson (#18), Carter Hart (#38), Tynan Lawrence (#42) and Daniel Vladar (#43).

Roma took an interesting approach by using two fourth-round selections on goaltenders.

Hart and Vladar join Spencer Knight, giving the franchise additional options at a position where one productive starter can make a meaningful difference.

Samuelsson adds an established NHL defenseman, while Zharovsky and Lawrence expand the club's prospect pool.

The draft may not be the biggest reason for Roma's potential improvement, however.

Macklin Celebrini, Wyatt Johnston, Robert Thomas, Cutter Gauthier, Ivan Demidov and Porter Martone already form an outstanding young offensive foundation.

If the next generation of Roma forwards continues developing, this could become one of the league's most dangerous organizations.

Vikings: Immediate Help and Future Upside

Selections: Trevor Connelly (#8), MacKenzie Weegar (#20), Xavier Villeneuve (#32), Bobby McMann (#44) and Jet Greaves (#56).

The Vikings assembled one of the most balanced draft classes in the league.

Weegar adds an established offensive defenseman, while McMann provides immediate forward production.

McMann at 44th overall is a particularly interesting selection. NHL.com projects him for 63 points, giving the Vikings an opportunity to add meaningful scoring well into the fourth round.

Connelly and Villeneuve provide longer-term upside, while Greaves gives the club another goaltending option.

The Vikings' season outlook will depend partly on their goaltending situation, but this draft gives them both immediate reinforcements and future assets.

Hitmen: Developing the Next Generation

Selections: Daxon Rudolph (#9), Alberts Smits (#21), Anthony Mantha (#33), Daniil But (#45) and Tom Willander (#57).

The Hitmen used the draft to strengthen their defensive prospect pool while adding established forward depth.

Rudolph, Smits and Willander give the organization several young defensemen with opportunities to develop, while But adds another offensive prospect.

Mantha provides immediate NHL experience, although the Hitmen already have considerable forward depth.

With Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon leading the roster, the Hitmen do not need every draft selection to become an immediate contributor.

Their larger challenge is developing enough supporting production, particularly on defence, to complement two of hockey's most productive forwards.

Blackhawks: Five Picks, Five Development Opportunities

Selections: Benjamin Kindel (#10), Collin Graf (#22), Matthew Wood (#34), Emmitt Finnie (#46) and Kashawn Aitcheson (#58).

The Blackhawks added a compelling combination of emerging NHL forwards and a young defenseman.

Graf, Kindel, Wood and Finnie have opportunities to develop into meaningful scoring contributors, while Aitcheson adds long-term potential on defence.

Graf at 22nd overall stands out as a selection with immediate offensive value. NHL.com's preseason projection places him at 54 points.

The Blackhawks already have a strong established core featuring Nikita Kucherov, Nick Suzuki, Jack Hughes, Sam Reinhart, Adam Fox and Jake Oettinger.

That depth gives the franchise the flexibility to develop its draft picks without depending on them to carry the team immediately.

North Stars: A Draft Built Around Depth

Selections: Nazar Privalov (#11), Nick Lardis (#23), Scott Wedgewood (#47) and Joel Hofer (#53).

The North Stars used their selections to add offensive potential and goaltending depth.

Lardis offers an intriguing scoring opportunity, while Privalov represents a longer-term investment.

Wedgewood and Hofer provide additional goaltending options behind Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The North Stars' most important offseason acquisition came outside the draft, when the club acquired Mitch Marner and Aatu Raty from the Islanders.

Marner joins David Pastrnak, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Matt Boldy and Tim Stutzle in an already formidable offensive lineup.

After finishing second last season, the North Stars enter another year with a roster constructed to compete immediately.

Inter Toronto HC: Investing in Long-Term Depth

Selections: Oliver Kapanen (#14), Noah Ostlund (#17), Jesper Wallstedt (#26), Mikhail Gulyayev (#31), Sergei Murashov (#36) and Ryan Lin (#50).

The newly rebranded Inter Toronto HC used six selections to strengthen several areas of its roster.

Kapanen and Ostlund add young forward talent, while Gulyayev and Lin expand the defensive prospect pipeline.

Wallstedt is arguably the most significant selection in the group.

NHL.com projects him for 34 wins, creating the potential for an immediate contribution at a position where Inter already owns Linus Ullmark and Stuart Skinner.

Murashov provides another long-term goaltending asset.

With Connor Bedard, Brady Tkachuk, Leo Carlsson, William Eklund and Alex DeBrincat already on the roster, Inter has an increasingly interesting combination of established talent and young players.

Islanders: Building the Next Wave

Selections: Brock England (#37), Ryan Ufko (#48), Sergei Skvortsov (#55), Kade O'Rourke (#59) and Madden Daneault (#60).

The Islanders entered the draft following significant offseason changes.

The franchise traded Jason Robertson to the Leafs and Mitch Marner to the North Stars, acquiring cash, draft capital and Troy Terry through those transactions.

Their draft class reflects an emphasis on adding younger players and future options.

Ufko offers a potential NHL contribution on defence, while England, O'Rourke, Skvortsov and Daneault provide developmental opportunities.

Terry's recovery from hip surgery is an important consideration entering the season.

The Islanders still have an established core featuring Sebastian Aho, Brandon Hagel, Nikolaj Ehlers, Travis Konecny, Rasmus Dahlin and Logan Thompson.

The question is how quickly their younger players can contribute enough production to offset the departure of two major scorers.

Leafs: Reloading While Defending the Championship

Selections: Egor Chinakhov (#19), Brandon Bussi (#24), Wyatt Cullen (#28), Jakub Dobes (#29) and Milan Sundstrom (#40).

The defending champions used their selections to add forward depth, goaltending options and developing talent.

Chinakhov offers immediate offensive potential, while Bussi and Dobes give Toronto additional options alongside Karel Vejmelka.

Cullen and Sundstrom provide younger assets for the organization's future.

Toronto's draft is especially interesting when considered alongside its offseason trades.

The Leafs acquired Jason Robertson from the Islanders for the 37th overall selection and $425 cash.

They subsequently moved Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the Coyotes as part of a deal that brought back picks #28 and #40, along with a 2027 second-round selection.

The result is a team that has added an elite scorer while retaining opportunities to develop younger players.

With Leon Draisaitl, Robertson, Kyle Connor, Sidney Crosby, Clayton Keller and an exceptional defensive group, the Leafs enter the season with another formidable roster.

Draft Picks That Could Make an Immediate Impact

Not every draft selection needs several years to develop. Several players selected this year are positioned to contribute immediately.

• Bobby McMann, Vikings (#44): An established forward with an NHL.com projection of 63 points.
• Egor Chinakhov, Leafs (#19): Offensive upside and a projected 62-point season provide an opportunity to contribute to Toronto's counting lineup.
• Josh Doan, Ferrari (#3): A projected 60-point forward who adds another NHL scoring option.
• Collin Graf, Blackhawks (#22): Projected for 54 points, with additional long-term development potential.
• Jesper Wallstedt, Inter Toronto HC (#26): A projected 34-win goaltender who provides both immediate value and long-term upside.
• Brandon Bussi, Leafs (#24): A projected 33-win goalie who strengthens Toronto's options in net.

These projections reflect NHL.com estimates, not guaranteed Lifetimepool contributions. A player's value also depends on whether his production is sufficient to finish among his team's counting players.

2026-27 Season Preview

The draft is complete, the major offseason trades have reshaped several franchises, and the championship race is taking shape.

Lifetimepool's scoring format places a premium on offensive depth, productive defensemen and a reliable starting goaltender.

Forwards and defensemen receive one point per goal or assist. Goalies receive two points per win and one point per overtime loss. Only the top 12 forwards, six defensemen and one goaltender contribute to each team's final total.

Our preseason outlook considers current rosters, established production, NHL projections, player availability and the potential impact of emerging talent.

Predicted 2026-27 Standings

The following is our editorial preseason forecast based on the rosters as currently constructed. It is not a mathematical projection of final fantasy points.

The Championship Contenders

Leafs: The Team Everyone Is Chasing

After winning last season's championship with 1,410 points, the Leafs have added Jason Robertson without dismantling their established core.

Draisaitl, Robertson, Connor, Crosby, Keller, Guentzel and Cooley give Toronto outstanding offensive depth.

The defensive group is equally impressive. Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Erik Karlsson, Darren Raddysh, John Carlson and Josh Morrissey give the Leafs six established offensive defensemen.

Toronto also has multiple goaltending options in Vejmelka, Bussi and Dobes.

Our prediction: The Leafs enter as our preseason championship selection. Their combination of forward depth, offensive defence and goaltending options gives them several ways to accumulate points.

North Stars: A Serious Championship Challenge

The North Stars finished second with 1,240 points last season and have strengthened their offensive lineup with Mitch Marner.

Pastrnak, Eichel, Panarin, Boldy, Stutzle, Point and Marner provide scoring throughout the forward group.

Zach Werenski and Roman Josi lead the defence, while Andrei Vasilevskiy provides a strong foundation in goal.

The biggest concern is defensive depth relative to Toronto's more extensive group of offensive defensemen.

Our prediction: The North Stars remain a leading championship challenger, with enough offensive talent to pressure the defending champions.

Blackhawks: A Balanced Contender

The Blackhawks finished third last season with 1,220 points and return another competitive roster.

Kucherov, Suzuki, Jack Hughes, Reinhart and Larkin anchor the forwards.

Adam Fox, Jakob Chychrun, Mikhail Sergachev and Brock Faber provide offensive production on defence.

Jake Oettinger gives the Blackhawks a reliable starting option in goal, while Dustin Wolf provides additional depth.

Our prediction: A third consecutive season near the top of the standings is a realistic outcome if the established core maintains its production.

Hitmen: Two Superstars and a Championship Opportunity

The Hitmen possess an offensive advantage that few teams can match.

Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon are projected by NHL.com for 135 and 130 points respectively.

Mark Scheifele and Martin Necas provide additional high-end production, while the team's remaining forwards supply considerable depth.

The key question is whether the Hitmen can generate enough scoring from their defence and supporting forwards to compete with the league's deepest rosters.

Our prediction: Another strong season, with the potential to challenge the top three if the supporting cast delivers.

The Teams That Could Shake Up the Standings

Devils: A Major Move Up the Standings?

The Devils are our selection for a significant improvement over last season's eighth-place finish.

Makar, Hutson and Jackson LaCombe provide exceptional offensive production from the blue line.

Matthews, Nylander, Slafkovsky, Hintz, Byfield and Snuggerud give the team an established offensive foundation.

Shesterkin and Dostal provide additional stability in goal.

The Devils have enough talent to compete for a podium position if their forward depth produces consistently.

Roma: The Young Team With the Biggest Upside

Few Lifetimepool franchises have assembled a younger offensive core with as much potential as Roma.

Celebrini, Johnston, Gauthier, Demidov, Martone and Sennecke form a foundation that could remain competitive for many seasons.

Celebrini is projected for 122 points by NHL.com, placing him among the NHL's highest projected scorers.

McAvoy and Sanderson lead the defence, while the additions of Samuelsson, Hart and Vladar provide additional options.

Roma's position in the standings will depend heavily on how quickly its younger players establish consistent NHL production.

A move into the top half of the league is our preseason prediction, with further upside as the roster develops.

Vikings: A Strong Roster With a Major Question in Goal

Kaprizov, Rantanen, Forsberg, Matthew Tkachuk, Dylan Guenther and Mark Stone provide an exceptional offensive foundation.

The additions of Weegar and McMann further strengthen the lineup.

The major uncertainty is Connor Hellebuyck's NHL situation.

Hellebuyck was suspended by Winnipeg after failing to report to training camp following his offseason trade request. His availability remains an important factor for the Vikings.

Greaves provides another option, but the Vikings will need reliable goaltending production to maximize the value of their established skaters.

The Rest of the League

Coyotes: Caufield, Thompson, Horvat, Knies and Nugent-Hopkins give the club a competitive offensive core. Improving its defensive production would strengthen its opportunity to move further up the standings.

Ferrari: The return of Barkov, together with Bratt, Kempe, Batherson and Hischier, gives Ferrari an opportunity to improve. Consistent defence and goaltending production remain important factors.

Inter Toronto HC: Bedard, Tkachuk, Carlsson, Eklund and DeBrincat provide an excellent foundation. The addition of Wallstedt could strengthen the club's goaltending, while younger players continue developing.

Islanders: The departures of Robertson and Marner create a substantial offensive challenge. Terry's expected absence early in the season adds another variable, although Aho, Hagel, Ehlers and Dahlin provide an established core.

Oilers: The organization continues building around an exceptional collection of prospects and young NHL players. Schaefer, Smith, Misa, Frondell, Holloway and Helenius give the club long-term potential, but its immediate scoring outlook remains dependent on player development.

Final Word

The 2026-27 draft reinforced the different strategies emerging throughout Lifetimepool.

The Leafs and North Stars have made major moves to strengthen their current rosters. The Blackhawks and Hitmen remain established contenders.

Roma, the Devils and Inter Toronto HC continue developing talented younger cores, while the Oilers have assembled a prospect pipeline whose greatest impact may still be several seasons away.

The draft has also given several franchises valuable goaltending insurance and additional roster flexibility.

Our preseason championship selection is the Leafs, with the North Stars and Blackhawks expected to provide serious competition.

But this is Lifetimepool, and an entire NHL season still lies ahead.

Sixty selections have been made. Twelve franchises are ready. The race for the Lifetimepool Championship begins now.

Projection sources: NHL.com 2026-27 skater point projections | NHL.com goalie win projections | Hellebuyck availability update | Terry recovery update. Preseason standings are editorial predictions based on the supplied Lifetimepool rosters and draft results. They are not guaranteed outcomes.